Ocean City, Maryland is one of the East Coast’s top boating destinations, with calm bays, offshore fishing, marinas, and dock-and-dine restaurants. As a Maryland local, I grew up spending summers in Ocean City, Maryland. There were a number of things that drew my family back year after year. Ocean City has so many fun activities to do. There’s a long sandy beach, several calm bays to cruise around in, scenic views and marine life ranging from jellyfish to marlin to dolphins.
I’ve included links to each destination in Argo so you can save them for later. If you don’t have an Argo account yet, I recommend making one and then skim this tutorial to learn how to save each place to your Captain’s Log for later.
This will make it easy to remember which places you wanted to go so you can route to them later!
Here are my top recommendations for places to visit, eat and explore while in Ocean City, MD:
Fishing and Day Trips
1. Assateague Island – Wild Horses & Tranquil Waters
Assateague Island is known for its wild horses, calm waters, and beautiful anchorages.
It’s a perfect destination for day trips only 6 minutes from the middle of downtown from the bay side.
The island is home to over 300 wild ponies, who can be seen with their foals from April through October. If you’re lucky, you’ll visit on the last Wednesday of July during the Pony Swim! The ponies swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island during low tide, typically between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
2. Sinepuxent Bay – Great Fishing Area
Sinepuxent Bay is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and water sports. It’s accessible via the Ocean City Inlet.
Sinepuxent Bay offers some of the finest inshore fishing available. You’ll find species such as flounder, rockfish, bluefish, croaker, trout, mackerel, sea bass, and tautog.
3. St. Martin River – Quiet Backwater Exploration
The St. Martin River is a calmer, less popular spot for anchoring, fishing and exploring backwaters. It is a serene tidal estuary approximately 4.4 miles long near Worcester County, MD. Its calm waters and scenic surroundings make it ideal for leisurely cruises and wildlife viewing. The river is accessible via several public boat ramps and marinas.
If you’re going to fish, I recommend trying during the outgoing tide. You’ll find rockfish, flounder and perch.
4. Isle of Wight Bay – Central Location for Marinas and Recreation
Isle of Wight Bay is centrally located. If you’re looking at slips or rental houses, this is the “bay-side” of Ocean City. This bay offers easy access to marinas, anchoring spots, and water recreation. All of the waterfront restaurants mentioned below are off of this bay.
It’s a hub for boating activities and provides convenient access to other nearby destinations. I recommend tubing or exploring via Jet Ski. Just be careful of the sand bars at low tide!
5. Offshore – A Fisherman’s Paradise
For serious anglers, Ocean City offers some of the best offshore fishing on the East Coast. The water is teeming with species such as sharks, wahoo, dolphin (mahi-mahi), yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, blue marlin, and white marlin. A number of charter companies are available to depart from the marinas around Ocean City Inlet on half-day, full-day, and multi-day trips
Marinas & Docks in Ocean City
6. Harbor Island Marina – Centrally Located
Centrally located and has family-friendly amenities like a pool, tennis courts, and a restaurant. Boaters appreciate its convenient mix of bay and ocean access. It’s located near popular waterfront restaurants and attractions, making it a great base for exploring the area.
7. Sunset Marina – Luxury Amenities
This place is frequently described as “a marina paradise” due to its luxury amenities like multiple pools, a fitness center, and the Sunset Grille restaurant. It offers charters, transient slips, a boatel/boatyard, top-tier facilities, and even a fish cam.
8. Bahia Marina – Family-run
A small, family-run marina that’s known for its welcoming atmosphere, boat rentals, fishing charters, and proximity to the popular Fish Tales restaurant (which I mention below).
Waterfront Restaurants and Favorite Spots
9. Seacrets – Lively Nightlife
Seacrets is an iconic waterfront bar that’s been around for years. My parent’s friends went there and now my friends go there. It’s a classic that hasn’t gotten old. It’s known for a lively atmosphere, multiple areas with different types of music and in-water seating. It’s a favorite among boaters looking to enjoy good food, tropical drinks and music.
Seacrets does not offer traditional dock access, but instead provides convenient mooring ball access along with a free shuttle service. Here’s how it works:
Mooring Balls & Tipsy Boat Shuttle Service
- Boaters moor their vessels on designated mooring balls in the bay, rather than docking directly at Seacrets.
- From the mooring ball, Seacrets operates the “Tipsy Boat” shuttle service during the peak season (typically May through September, weather permitting), which transports guests to and from the venue’s bayfront area
10. Hooked – Locally Sourced Seafood
Hooked is a small seafood restaurant focusing on fresh and locally sourced fish in a casual setting. Hooked’s menu changes daily to reflect seasonal availability and local sourcing—around 80–85% of ingredients are local, excluding items like salmon. I highly recommend the crab dip, fish tacos, and cioppino.
While not directly accessible via a dock, Hooked’s Coastal Highway location is a short ride from marinas, making it a quick and worthwhile trip after a day out on the water.
11. Fish Tales – Family Friendly
Fish Tales provides docking for boats and a family-friendly atmosphere with tables in the sand and a large playground. It’s a great spot for families to enjoy a meal by the water. I recommend the seafood tacos or, if you’re under 12, the Mac and Cheese. As a kid, this was my favorite place to eat and we visited every summer.
12. Dumser’s Dairyland – the Best Ice Cream
Dumser’s Dairyland is a beloved ice cream shop along the boardwalk. It’s a must-visit for boaters looking to indulge in sweet treats after a day on the water. They hand-make all of the flavors every day.
Some people (my younger self included) swear that Kohr’s is better. Don’t listen to them.
There’s also a delicious caramel corn shop along the boardwalk. I can’t remember the name, but if you’re walking along and you smell something yummy, it’s probably this. We always got a large bucket and it rarely made it home post-vacation.
To Sum Up Ocean City, MD
Ocean City, MD is one of the best boating destinations on the East Coast, offering offshore fishing, calm bays, family-friendly marinas, and waterfront restaurants like Seacrets and Fish Tales. Top spots include Assateague Island, Isle of Wight Bay, and Sinepuxent Bay. Perfect for fishing, anchoring, Jet Skiing, or simply enjoying the water. Add these spots to your bucketlist now!
